Jordan Kobritz

Archive - August 2016

Based on statistics, Alex Rodriguez is one of the greatest and most prolific players in MLB history. He is also one of the most polarizing and disliked players of his generation.
A-Rod’s playing career seemingly came to an end after he was unceremoniously released from his contract with the Yankees on August 12. Because the 41-year old had another year remaining on the 10-year, $275 million contract he signed in 2007, the parties agreed to a new deal for the $6 million remaining this year and the $21 million owed for 2017. Under the terms of the agreement, A-Rod will be a special instructor and advisor for the team and report directly to Managing General Partner Hal Steinbrenner.

A decade ago, when Tiger Woods was the best player in the world, golf looked like a growth industry. Player participation and number of rounds played were increasing, new manufacturers were entering the field and corporate sponsors were clamoring over each other to jump on the bandwagon. But fast forward to today and hardly anyone would recognize the sport.
Golf participation has steadily declined. Corporate investment in the game has shrunk substantially. A number of golf manufacturers have exited the marketplace, the latest being Nike. The world’s largest sports apparel company, with over $30 billion in annual sales, announced earlier this month that it would no longer manufacture golf clubs, balls and bags. However, Nike will continue selling golf footwear and apparel.

When Kevin Durant waved goodbye to the Oklahoma City Thunder last month and signed a two-year $54.3 million contract with the Golden State Warriors, most NBA observers predicted multiple championships in the Warriors’ future.
That may prove to be true. After all, last year the Warriors finished the regular season with the best record in NBA history and fell one game short of winning the championship. They lost to LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers who stormed back from a three-games-to-one deficit and unceremoniously knocked the Warriors from their anointed throne. That collapse proved, once again, that games are won on the field of play, not in the blogosphere. So it would be wise to hold the champagne and parades for the time being.

In this PC (politically correct) world, it’s difficult to say anything that won’t offend someone. Those who rail against the PC police often make a valid case that too many of us are overly sensitive and need to lighten up. But sometimes we feed the beast.
Jim Turner, the offensive line coach for the Texas A & M University football team, was suspended last week after giving a presentation entitled “Chalk Talk 2016” to a gathering of approximately 700 Aggie women. The presentation was intended to enlighten the group on the rules of football, specifically, playing the offensive line. But unfortunately for Turner and co-presenter Jeff Banks, the Aggies’ tight ends coach, the talk made headlines for all the wrong reasons.